Communication is one of the most crucial aspects of business. It would be difficult, and in some cases nearly impossible, to conduct business without a reliable communication solution. While your phone may not be the first thing that comes to mind in regard to your most valuable office technology, it’s vital to your operations. Given its importance, you need a robust phone solution capable of improving productivity.
There are a variety of communication options to choose from, but voice over internet protocol (VoIP) has become a favorite for many businesses. But what is a VoIP phone and does it offer any advantages over a traditional phone line? In this blog, we’re going to discuss the difference between VoIP and landline phones.
What Is a VoIP Phone?
VoIP is a type of technology that uses the internet to send and receive calls. Unlike PSTN phones that rely on copper landlines, VoIP instead relies on digital lines that can be accessed from any place with an internet connection. As a result, VoIP is often seen as a great business phone alternative to your local telephone company.
How Do VoIP Phones Work?
IP telephony uses the same infrastructure and methods used to distribute other information on the web, like emails. Essentially, when a device is connected to your internet, it’s linked to your internet protocol (IP) address. This address allows different devices to find and communicate with each other over the web.
With VoIP, your voice is transformed into a data packet. These data packets travel between your VoIP provider and can be sent anywhere in the world within a second. When you’re ready to make a VoIP call, the call follows these four steps:
- Your system connects with a switch (a networking device that allows you to connect multiple devices together in a network) or router in your local area network (LAN).
- After you dial a phone number, the phone tells your VoIP provider who you’re trying to reach.
- Your VoIP provider then establishes a connection to the phone you’re trying to reach and sends data packets to and from your phone.
- Your VoIP phone converts these digital packets back into sounds that you can understand.
What Technology Do I Need for VoIP?
Unlike traditional phone lines, VoIP doesn’t require a lot of setup. Only two pieces of equipment truly matter when converting to VoIP. First, you need a reliable broadband internet connection. Most IP systems are strong enough to accommodate their entire workforce, even if multiple users need to access the VoIP system simultaneously. Second, you’re going to need a telephone platform with VoIP-enabled integration.
If you’re unsure of where to get VoIP phone hardware, you can partner with a MSP, like LISS Technologies. We offer some of the best business phone solutions you can find. And we take care of troubleshooting, repairs, and upgrades, so you don’t have to.
Is VoIP Secure?
As with anything related to the internet, it’s necessary to think about cybersecurity. Is a VoIP phone secure? Today, VoIP is considered to be very secure. Through your provider, your VoIP solution can be encrypted to minimize the chance of cybercrime. Additionally, your provider can implement other security measures to fend off a variety of cyberthreats.
What Are the Benefits of VoIP?
Since VoIP phones are connected to the internet, they’re able to provide certain advantages that you can’t get with a traditional phone. As a result, every business stands to benefit from implementing a VoIP solution. Some of these benefits include:
Increased Mobility
The workplace has become drastically more mobile than in the past. Some employees frequently move from one location to another, while others may be working from home. In a business landscape like this, being able to adjust your phone services to meet the needs of your employees is very beneficial. This is one of the many areas where VoIP shines. With VoIP, you can log in with any phone and access your services from anywhere.
No Service Limitations
One of the problems with traditional phone systems is that a line is assigned a call number after it’s installed. If you move for any reason but want to keep your services, you’re going to have to contact your phone company to have those services transferred over. With VoIP, all you need to do is log in and you can access your services from anywhere.
Scalability
When your business is growing, you’re going to need to add new phones to your network. There’s a physical limit to how many phone lines can be installed for a building. Fortunately, these limitations are virtually nonexistent for VoIP. What this means is you can add as many new users as you want and you only have to pay for the equipment.
Ease of Integration
VoIP is known for its ability to easily integrate with other platforms. For example, VoIP can be integrated with Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and other applications. Having this functionality can allow you to access inbound call records or place outbound calls, which can be an effective tool for improving customer relationships.
Productivity Features
If you’re not familiar with VoIP, then you may be surprised by the amount of features that can be integrated with it. VoIP systems offer a wide selection of features meant to maximize productivity and efficiency including:
- Call Holding
- Call Transfer
- Call Hunt
- Video Conference Calling
- Contact Lists
- Virtual Numbers
- Push To Talk
- Automated Assistance
- Call Analytics
- Voicemail Forwarding
- Three-Way Calling
